Former Ivorian First Lady Simone Gbagbo. Photo credit: Reports Afrique
Simone Gbagbo, Ivory Coast
Commonly referred to as the “Iron Lady” Simone Gbagbo is the wife of the exiled former President of Ivory Coast Laurent Gbagbo. She served as the Ivorian First Lady between 2000 and 2011. The 68-year-old politician is said to have been involved in the nationalist politics that led to the infamous Ivorian Civil War in 2002.
In 2015, Simone was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in the post-election violence that followed after the disputed presidential election in 2010. She had been charged with undermining state security. Her husband is still on trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
